Album reviews for those of us who love discovering new music, but just can’t even right now.

Album reviews for those of us who love discovering new music, but just can’t even right now. Have an album submission? Email it to us at Contact@TheRooster.com

LOCAL

M.O.A. // iLoveAllTheHumanBein9s

M.O.A. stands for “Middle Of America” and features two hustling emcees by the names of Jamarvelouzz and Goldęn. Both deliver a cadence and beat structure with homage to the throwback in the space-less follow up to their “Windows 94” mixtape. Reminiscent of classic Pharcyde tracks, M.O.A. launches its collection with a spoonful of hip-hop nostalgia held tight with stories of everyday life through the eyes of a hip-hop head. It’s one for the shuffle if the summertime mix needs a refresher.

Augustus // Into Frames EP

It’s not that the Boulder trio in Augustus sit playing entirely on the bluegrass field, and aren’t spending a lot of time on the Americana one, either. The act is back and forth between the two genres, in fact, and pulls heavy influences from each distinct sound. But it even wanders from that on tracks like “Bloodbath” — which coincidentally is our favorite of the new EP. We say: partner “Into Frames” with a calm Sunday afternoon and a mason jar full of Sweet Tea … vodka.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Joss Stone // Water For Your Soul

After her abrupt (and costly) departure from EMI in mid-2010, it seemed as though Joss Stone all but disappeared from the light of American pop — the power of spiteful label cretins at work, we suppose. But even without a major deal, she’s been releasing work on her own imprint, Stone’d Records, to intermittently showcase her underrated vocal prowess and proficient writing. Produced in part by Damian Marley, “Water For Your Soul” has a prominent reggae influence, tugged along by Stone’s soulful trill.

Highly Suspect // Mister Asylum

It’s not surprising that a band like Highly Suspect, with its gritty delivery and dirty guitar riffs, would be from a major metropolis like Brooklyn, NY. What is surprising, however, is how the three rockers have taken a seemingly saturated genre and built on it without being gimmicky or scamming with shitty tricks. Most grabbing about the trio — aside from it being founded by twins, Ryan and Rich Myer — is frontman Johnny Stevens’ emotion-packed vocal tone. Think Lenny Kravitz without all the sunglasses and halftime shows.